Jeff Davis Parish sheriff's deputy treated for injuries

JENNINGS - A Jeff Davis Parish sheriff's deputy received minor injuries early Thursday when he crashed his patrol unit while pursuing a suspect fleeing a traffic stop.

The deputy, whose name has not been released, was treated and released with minor injuries after being airlifted to a Lafayette hospital, Chief Criminal Investigator Chris Ivey said in a news release.

The deputy was sore, but doing well, Ivey later said.

The incident began just before daylight when a vehicle without lights on was seen speeding on Interstate 10 just west of Jennings.

When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, using emergency sires and siren, the vehicle refused to stop and continued driving without headlights, Ivey said.

The pursuit ended when deputies no longer had a visual on the suspect vehicle, he said.

A short time later deputies received information that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed north of Roanoke.
Deputies were attempting to locate the vehicle, when the deputy lost control of his vehicle on Liberty Cemetery Road just of La. 102. The vehicle left the roadway, crossed a ditch and struck a levee before going airborne. The vehicle traveled 50 feet before landing in a nearby field, Ivey said.